AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken used an overwhelming attack, registering a .243 hitting percentage, en route to a three-set shutout over the UNC Pembroke volleyball team on Friday evening inside the Convocation Center in Peach Belt Conference action.
UNCP's (11-14, 2-9 PBC) loss marked the second of the season to USC Aiken (15-5, 8-3) and brought the Braves to 3-5 in the month of October. The set scores were 25-13, 25-17 and 25-15.
Junior Nicole Mathews led UNCP with nine kills, while Josephine Yang tallied a team-best 13 digs. Both Ka'asha Jefferies and Danielle Brown also tallied double-digit digs with 10 and 11, respectively. The Braves finished the game with 20 kills and 17 assists, 11 of which were dishes out by Sabrina Gonzalez.
The Braves tallied their highest hitting percentage of the night in the first set, but an early 4-0 lead on serving by Sheila Walsh was too much to overcome as the Pacers claimed the win in the opening set. In the second set, UNCP kept up pace with USC Aiken, but a late 8-2 run pushed the Pacers up 2-0. Finally, Walsh closed out the game with her serving in the final set as Ashley Diedrich collected four kills in the final six plays for the victory.
USC Aiken concluded the contest with 41 kills behind a team-best 14 kills by Diedrich, as well as 31 assists from Walsh. The Pacers posted all nine services aces and totaled 60 digs, while also doublong UNCP's total team blocks with 16.
UNCP will be back in action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. Peach Belt Conference matchup against Lander (15-5, 4-5) in Greenwood, S.C., followed by a regional battle against Fayetteville State (12-5) at 7 p.m. in Fayetteville.
